TREATMENT AREAS

Frequently asked questions about crows feet injections

How do crows feet injections work?

The orbicularis occuli is a ring-shaped muscle that runs around the eye. Wrinkle injections serve to weaken the muscle activity in that area, softening the contractions of the orbicularis occuli muscle at the side of your eye. Dynamic lines are the lines that can be seen only when you move your face, such as smiling. Over time, dynamic lines turn into static lines - which are the lines that are always there, even when your face is resting. In the case of crows feet, muscle relaxing injections are injected into a small part of the muscle. Over-injecting the muscle can cause problems with eyelid function and appearance, so it is important to consult an experienced clinician.

How long does the treatment take?

Your first consult will include a complimentary facial assessment to determine the best treatment approach for you, so the initial appointment will take about 30 minutes. Thereafter, your maintenance visits will take approximately 15 minutes.

What will happen during my consult?

Your clinician will examine your face - and particularly observe any hollowing of temples, eyelid droop or asymmetry. They will discuss your perception of your face and skin, and your desired outcome from the treatment. They will also discuss the potential side effects and complications of the treatment, and your post care instructions. You will be provided with an estimate of the number of ‘units’ of the product that are required to create an improvement in your crows feet. If you wish to proceed, the next part of your consultation will take less than 5 minutes. You will have pre-treatment photos taken and your crows feet will be cleaned with alcohol. The clinician will ask you to smile while they identify the ideal injection points. The injections themselves take a matter of seconds. If this is your first treatment, a review appointment will be booked in 2 to 3 weeks to assess your results and see if any adjustments need to be made; this won’t be required for subsequent treatments.

How much do crows feet injections cost?

Estimates are available upon request (click the contact button above or email info@drdavidsharp.com.au). In most cases, crows feet injections typically cost between $150 to $200.

How long until I see my crows feet reduction results?

Some patients report seeing results within 2 days, while others can take 7 to 14 days for the full effect to be seen. It’s important to remember that it can take some time before you see results, and often more than one treatment is required to achieve your desired result.

Is there downtime involved?

No, you can go back to work and normal activities straight after your cosmetic injection. There may be some slight small pimple-like lumps under the injection sites around the sides of your eyes, which quickly dissipate after the treatment.

Are there any post treatment precautions I should be aware of?

During your consult your clinician will explain your post treatment care instructions, and you will also take home a written post care sheet. It is most important not to rub, massage or place pressure on the injection site for 4-6 hours after the treatment - to ensure the injectable produce stays exactly where it is meant to be. Rubbing it or spreading it to another area can cause weakening of nearby muscles that can cause unintended ptosis, puckering or drooping. It’s important to follow your clinician’s advice and also read your take-home post treatment care instructions carefully.

Are there any side effects of crows feet njections?

Cosmetic injections to reduce frown lines are very safe. The most common side effect is local bruising around the injection site, and a dull headache, which about 10% of patients experience in the days following treatment. Less common, but possible, side effects can be asymmetry or drooping of the eyes or cheeks. If you already have visible facial asymmetry (most people do), sometimes your initial results may take effect at a different pace and each side of the face adjusts to the treatment. This is very normal and usually resolves within a few weeks; it will be assessed at your review visit and if necessary, can be ‘tweaked’ to adjust the amount of product placed and even out any remaining asymmetry. This is one of the factors our clinicians take into account when treating patients. We would always prefer to under-treat initially, and then add more once your initial results are evident, than to over-treat in your first visit and create an over-injected, undesirable appearance simply just to sell a higher volume of product!

How often will I need maintenance treatments?

The longevity of results can vary from patient to patient, but generally most patients have their treatments every 3 to 4 months to maintain their results and prevent further deepening of static (permanent) lines in their crows feet.

Do crows feet injection hurt?

We use the smallest possible needles to deliver your treatment, and most people find it very tolerable - at the most like small mosquito bites.

How much improvement will I get from crows feet reduction injections?

The extent of improvement in crows feet depends on what you start with. If your skin has just fine lines when you are not smiling - but has lines when you do have movement (dynamic lines) - the injections will reduce the activity of the muscles and your crows feet will be smooth. However if you have deep wrinkles and lines in your eye area when you aren’t smiling (these are called ‘static’ lines), the lines will be softened and less visible, but not disappear altogether.

For these lines, Dr Sharp recommends working on the skin’s surface and collagen/elastin with Fraxel laser – or Dermapen microneedling to stimulate the skin’s own anti-ageing response and improve skin condition in these areas.

It’s important to remember that dynamic lines (that appear when you move) usually form into static lines and wrinkle (which are always there, even when you aren’t moving) over time as the face ages. It’s never too late to reduce static lines, most people always achieve some improvement even with deep established static lines, however preventative action with the subtle use of injectables to reduce dynamic lines can help to prevent static lines from forming.

Does your clinic offer anaesthetic cream to numb the area prior to treatment?

Most patients find the injections are so small, quick and tolerable, they don’t require any topical anaesthetic - however we are more than happy to apply our prescriptive topical anaesthetic, if requested. Please let us know if you would like this when booking your consultation, so we can schedule you to come into the clinic 30 minutes prior to your consultation, allowing plenty of time to apply the anaesthetic and for it to take effect before your treatment. Feel free to contact us today for more information!